Progress Bar / Tracker
Horizontal bars showing progress toward defined targets, ideal for goal tracking dashboards.
Q4 Goal Progress
Current progress toward quarterly targets
Use a progress bar / tracker when…
- Goal tracking dashboards
- OKR progress monitoring
- Fundraising or campaign progress
- Multi-goal comparison
- Personal or team productivity (sprint burn-up, training milestones)
Avoid when…
- When the target is undefined or fluid
- Time-series trends (use line chart)
- Precise comparison across categories (use bar chart)
Data it needs
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Min Rows | 2 |
| Min Columns | 3 |
| Column Types | stringnumbernumber |
| Notes | Each row needs a label, current value, and target value. |
Visual anatomy
Guiding principles
Consider instead
Common mistakes
Not showing the target clearly
Using inconsistent scales across bars
Missing percentage or fraction labels
Color coding that doesn't indicate on-track vs behind
History
Progress bars originated in computing UI (file transfers, installations) in the 1970s as determinate-vs-indeterminate indicators; data dashboards repurposed the same metaphor to visualize goal attainment across multiple objectives.
Accessibility notes
Use ARIA progressbar role. Provide current/target values as text. Do not rely on color alone for status.
Related reading
Got data? Let's see what works.
Drop your CSV. You'll get a Progress Bar / Tracker plus four alternatives - ranked by which one actually fits your data best.